Ramie harvesting machine



Nov. 5, 1963 w. L. PIERCE 3,109,271

RAMIE HARVESTING MACHINE Fil'ed May 11, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 k M'l/iam L. PI'erCeINI ENTOR.

' BY I I a Attorneys Nov. 5, 1963 w, PIERCE 3,109,271

RAMIE HARVESTING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Will/21m L. Pierce INVENTOR.

Nov. 5, 1963 w. L. PIERCE 3,109,271

RAMIE HARVESTING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 William L. Pierce 1N VEN T 0R BY. WWW

W. L. PIERCE RAMIE HARVESTING MACHINE Nqv. 5, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 11, 1959 8 w c m m mvw mm .w m m 0 m D3 L m H m@ 3 mm mm E m W .m aw v m W w W. L. PIERCE RAMIE HARVESTING MACHINE Nov. 5, 1963 Filed May 11, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 William L. Pierce I INVENTOR.

9 BY m and - Filed May 11, 1959 Nov. 5, 1963 w, PIERCE I 3,109,271

RAMIE HARVESTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 William L. Pierce INVENTOR.

United States Patent Filed May 11, B59, Ser. No. 812,192 6 Claims. or. 56-17) The present invention generally relates to a harvester and more particularly to a ramie harvester incorporating in its construction a cleaner for initially cleaning the ramie immediately after it has been cut.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a ramie harvester and cleaner assembly mounted on a mobile frame such as a truck chassis and including a mechanism for gathering and cutting the ramie as the device traverses the field and conveying the ramie in a vertical position and transferring the same to a cleaning mechanism while being retained in a vertical position and subsequently running the depending portions of the ramie through cleaning mills for removing certain portions of the ramie for breaking the central wood part of the ramie into a plurality of separate pieces and subsequently kicking the central wood out of the fiber and more or less scraping the fiber free of bark with the fiber being subsequently cut oil adjacent its point of support and deposited on a suitable towed vehicle with the remainder or the top portion being deposited back onto the surface of the soil for subsequent return of the nutrient value therein back to the soil.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a harvester assembly generally in the form of an outrigger attachment to a truck frame along with a crop gathering assembly which is adjustable in height to contact the crop just below the fan of leaves of acceptable canes of ramie, the assembly being adjusted so that it will not grip short plants with little value thereby providing an automatic grading of the canes while harvesting so that acceptable tall plants will be processed and substantially worthless short plants will be passed over.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a harvester and cleaner for ramie which is selfpropelled and self-powered and which is substantially automatic in operation and generally dependable and trouble-free.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the ramie harvester and cleaner of the present invention;

FEGURE 2 is a side elevation of the construction of FIGURE 1 from the crop gathering side of the harvester; FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the harvester; FlGURE 4 is a partial side elevation of the cleaner assembly taken from the side opposite from the crop gathering assembly;

FlGURE 5 is a detail transverse sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the mechanism for raising and lowering the cutter and skid assembly which supports the cutter;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse, sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 66 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the construction of the supporting framework for the crop gathering and cutting assembly along with the drive mechanism for part of the conveying mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 illustrating further gleam Patented Nov. 5, 1Q63 structural details of the conveying mechanism and the drive mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 8-43 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the details of structure of the initial mill through which the plants are pulledfor breaking up wood fibers;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the drive mechanism for the mills and other related structure;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the rope mechanism for carrying .the plants around the clean ing wheel and illustrating the manner in which the plants are inserted onto the wheel and removed therefrom; and

FlGURE 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the drive mechanism for the plant cut-off in the crop gathering assembly and the cut-off for the tops of the plants after they have been cleaned.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral Ell) generally designates the ramie harvester and cleaner of the present invention which includes generally a truck frame and chassis designated by the numeral 12, a crop gathering and cutting assembly generally designated by the numeral 14, a support wheel of enlarged construction generally designated by the numeral 16, a cleaning assembly incorporating two mills with the cleaning assembly generally designated by the numeral 18 and other related mechanism to be described in detail.

The truck frame or chassis 12 is of generally conventional construction and includes longitudinally extending frame rails 20 interconnected rigidly by transverse frame rails 22. Rear driving wheels 24 are provided and front steerable wheels 26 are provided. A cab 28 may be provided but is optional and the cab 28 is provided with the usual control mechanisms for controlling operation of the vehicle. Also, the truck chassis is provided with a power take-off shaft 30 for a purpose described herein after.

Referring initially to FIGURES 2 and 5, a plurality of laterally extending and parallel support bars 32 are connected pivotally to the left frame rail 24) by a pivot pin 34 which pivotally supports the support bars 32 from lugs 36 which maybe welded to the frame rail 20. The outer end of the bars 32 are connected to an elongated longitudinally extending member 38 generally in the form of an I beam with the ends of the bars 32 being connected thereto by virtue of lugs 49 and pivot bolts 32.

Rigidly secured to and spaced vertically downwardly from the longitudinal member 38 is a runner 44 which is rigidly connected'thereto by a vertical support member 46. The vertical support member 46 is rigid with the longitudinal member 38 and is also braced to an adjacent support bar by a brace member 48. The runner 44 generally forms a skid for engaging the ground surface.

An outer runner 50 is disposed in laterally spaced and parallel relation to the runner 44 with each of the runners having an upwardly curved forward end as designated by the numeral 52. Interconnecting bracket members 54 rigidly interconnect the runners 44 and 50 and the central portions of the bracket members 54 provides a supporting area 56 for a fluid motor 58 having a depending and vertically disposed output shaft as having a cutter blade or plate 62 mounted on the lower end thereof. The cutter plate 62 may be of any suitable construction and may be in the form of a circular saw blade. The front end of the runner is connected to an upwardly extending swath bar 64 by pivot bolts 66. An adjustable link 63 is pivotally connected to the swath divider 64 and provides a support therefor; The swath divider 64 extends upwardly and forwardly in an inclined direction and generally is disposed forwardly of the outside runner 50 for dividing the rarnie being cut from that left standing thus guiding if the ramie into the area between the runners 44 and 54 cutting by engagement with the cutter 62 which has a periphery generally extending slightly beyond the upturned ends 52 of the runners 44 and 511.

The hydraulically operated cylinder 7 is pivotally connected to a transverse support member 72 and the cylinder 76 is provided with a piston 74 which is hingedly attached to one of the support bars 32 whereby contraction of the piston and cylinder arrangement will lift the skid bars upwardly to a vertically elevated stored position whereby the harvester may be moved over a road surface or over a field surface at a high speed without the skids touching the ground. The connecting bar 68 may be disconnected when the runners 44 and 50 are elevated thus enabling movement of the swath divider 64. In view of the limited angular movement of the runners 44 and 50, the pivotal connections in the mechanism may be sufficient to enable the connecting bar 68 to be left attached with the change in elevation being accommodated by the pivot bolt 66 and the connection between the divider 64 and the connecting bar 68.

Located above the cutter assembly is a gathering apparatus which includes an elongated horizontal tubular bar 76 disposed generally in parallel relation to the longitudinal frame rail 20 and an outer longitudinally extending tubular rail 78 disposed in rearwardly converging relation to the rail 76. Rigidly connected with the tubular rail 76 is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined rail 80 curving downwardly as indicated by the numeral 82. Interconnecting the bars 76 and 78 is a rear generally inverted U-shaped yoke 34 and an inverted U-shaped yoke 86 at the front thereof which provides clearance for the top of the plants. The inner leg of the front yoke 86 is rigid with a spacer 88 rigidly connected to the lower end thereof and rigidly connected with the rail 76. The rear U-shaped yoke member 84- is rigid with the rail 76 and also the member 80.

For supporting the rails and the crop gathering mechanism in general, a laterally extending tubular bar 90 is provided and is rigidly supported from the frame rails by supporting members 92. A rearwardly extending and upstanding support member 94 connected to the remote frame rail extends in a laterally inclined direction and a rearwardly extending direction with a horizontally disposed member 96 connected to the upper end thereof with the horizontally disposed member connecting into a depending vertical member 98 rigid with the outer end of the transverse pipe t). The rear end of member 78 is connected to the outer end of transverse member 90 by a clamp mechanism 169 and the rear end of member 76 is secured to the transverse member fitlby a clamp 102 thus securing the members 76, and 78 to the transverse support 90 with the transverse support and the entire structure being also supported by the members 94, 96 and 98. The connecting brace 66 is connected with the member 76 and the front of the crop gathering mechanism may change elevation in accordance with changes in elevation of the skid bars or. runners as they proceed over the ground surface.

Mounted on the front of the longitudinal member 76 is a sprocket gear 194 and mounted on the front of the member 78 is a sprocket gear 106. Extending arcuately from the tangential area of the sprocket gear 107 and generally rearward is an elongated arcuate guide 108 which backs the sprocket chain 110 which passes over the sprocket gear 104. This arcuate guide 108 extends rearwardly and inwardly beyond the adjacent frame rail and terminates generally in tangential relation to a sprocket gear 112. The chain 110 passes over the sprocket gear 112 and subsequently over an idler sprocket gear 114 mounted generally adjacent to the member 7 6 but on a support member 116. A guide 118 is also provided for the sprocket chain 120 which extends around sprocket gear 166. The sprocket chain 120' generally proceeds in an arcuate curvilinear manner in opposition to the sprocket chain 108 and passes over a sprocket gear 122 4 generally alongside of sprocket gear 112. The chain 12 then proceeds around the outer surface of a sprocket gear 124 generally in alignment with but spaced from the sprocket gear 114. Thus, there are two separate chains which have a portion of their path moving in an arcuate manner in spaced opposition to each other whereby the top portions of the plants will be gripped between the chains and and carried rearwardly and inwardly in an arcuate manner and subsequently be discharged and transferred to the supporting wheel 16 in a manner described hereinafter. Adjustment of one of the sprocket gears such as the sprocket gears 114 and 124 may be provided for maintaining a predetermined tension on the sprocket chains.

Reference is made to FIGURE 7 in which the drive mechanism for the sprocket chains 110 and 120 is illus trated by virtue of driving engagement with the sprocket gears 112 and 122. The sprocket gear 122 is carried by the upper end of a vertically disposed shaft 124 received within a vertically disposed housing 126 having an enlarged area 128 adjacent the upper end thereof. The enlarged area is provided with a worm wheel or gear 130 in meshing engagement with a worm pinion 132 mounted on a power input shaft 134 which will rotate the shaft and sprocket gear 122 at a low rate or reduced rate of speed. The shaft 124 is journaled in bearing assemblies 136 at the upper and lower ends of the housing or casing 126.

The lower end of the housing 126 is communicated with a longitudinally extending housing 138 which in turn communicates with a vertical housing 140 parallel to the hous ing 126 and spaced therefrom with the housing 140 supporting a vertical shaft 142 having the sprocket gear 112 mounted on the upper end thereof. Bearing assemblies 144 are provided for the shaft 142 adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof.

For transferring the power from shaft 134 to 142, the

mounted on the shaft 15% below the gear 143 is a sprocket gear 154 upon which a sprocket chain 156 is received for driving the sprocket chain 156. The sprocket chain 156 extends through the housing 138 and encircles over a sprocket gear 158 rigid with the lower end of the shaft 142. Thus, the shafts 124 and 142 will be driven at the same rate of speed but at a reduced rate of speed in relation to the power input shaft 134. Also, the chains 110 and 120 will be moved in such a manner that plants engaged by the crotch or throat formed by the diverging chains at the forward end of the crop gathering assemblies will be moved inwardly between the chains in a positive manner with the backing guides forming suflicient backing for the chains for securely holding and gripping the plants.-

Supported from a central drum 160 is a plurality of radially extending spokes 162 which are rigidly connected at their outer ends to an annular rim 164 which forms the supporting wheel 16 and the rim is generally of V-shaped configuration with the apex thereof facing inwardly and the diverging side walls thereof receiving an endless flexible rope or cable 166. The drum 160 is of that type used as a brake drum for a truck and is supported by an axle housing 168 which also carries an axle therein for rotating the drum 160 in the manner of the drive assembly of a vehicle. The axle housing 168 is connected with and driven from a differential assembly 170 having a power input,

shaft 172 extending longitudinally forwardly thereof. The differential assembly 170 is supported on a transverse frame member 22 and the power input shaft 172 is relatively short and provided with a sprocket gear 174 on the free end thereof. 7

The rope 166 and the V-shaped rim 164 cooperate with each other for holding the plants or fibers generally desig-' nated by the numeral 176. These plants are received 4 from the conveying chains 110 and 120 in a manner described hereinafter and will be conveyed around the wheel 16 and through the mills 1s. After the ramie passes the mils 18, it passes a cut-off cutter 178 driven by a fluid motor 186 which is supported on an upstanding bracket 18 carried by the rear end of the frame rails 20 or the transverse frame rail 22. A generally U-shaped guard 184 is provided for the outer periphery of the rotatable cutter blade 17S and the end edge thereof facing the direction from which the ramie 176 approaches is tapered or inclined as designated by the numeral 186 for guiding the ramie into the rotatable cutter blade 178 thus severing the major portion of the ramie from the top portion so that the major portion may be deposited onto a trailing vehicle such as a trailer (not shown) or on any other mechanism for conveying the ramie plant to a processing and cleaning plant for further treatment. The tops of the ramie which are gripped between the rim 164 and the rope 166 are subsequently dropped onto the field when the rope 166 is separated from the wheel when the rope approaches the entrance area for the ramie plant.

F or removing the rope from the rim 164, there is provided a horizontally disposed pulley 188 disposed exteriorly of the wheel and generally in engagement with the outer surface of the rope 166. The pulley 188 rotates about a vertical axis and provides a take-off pulley for the rope 166 which extends for a slight distance in a generally radial manner with this portion of the rope being designated by the numeral 190. The rope 166 then passes over a vertically disposed pulley 192 rotatable about a horizontal axis and extends upwardly with this portion of the rope being designated by the numeral 194.

The rope 166 then extends over a similar vertical pulley 196 rotatable about a horizontal axis and in spaced parallel relation to the axis of rotation of the pulley 192 and the rope then extends horizontally with this portion being designated by the numeral 198 and this portion extends.

inwardly back towards the wheel and generally over the rim portion thereof although this portion of the rope is spaced above the rim 154. The rope 166 then passes over a horizontally disposed pulley 200 rotatable about a vertical axis and then extends horizontally with this portion designated by the numeral 262 and with this portion generally being perpendicular to a radius of the Wheel which intersects the portion 202. The rope 166 then passes over the horizontally pulley 204 similar to the pulley 206 and rotatable about a vertical axis in spaced parallel relation to the axis 200. The rope then extends horizontally outwardly generally in parallel relation to the portion 198 and this portion is designated by the numeral 206. The rope 166 then passes over pulley 208 comparable to pulley 196 and disposed in spaced parallel relation thereto. The rope then proceeds downwardly with this portion being designated by the numeral 211) and proceeds over the outside of pulley 212 comparable to pulley 1% and in spaced parallel relation thereto. The rope then extends inwardly in a portion designated by the numeral 214 and extends around the pulley 216 which is comparable to pulley 188 in that the pulley 216 engages the outer surface of the rope 166 and guides the same back onto the rim 164. The pulleys 18S and 216 as well as the pulleys 192 and 212, 1% and 268, 2% and 264 are spaced from each other and generally form an entrance throat for insertion of the ramie 17 6 between the rope 166 and the rim by inserting the top ends of the ramie plants 176 between the pulley 216 and the rim 164 since the pulley 216 is slightly spaced there from. The throat or entrance crotch formed by the pulley 216 with the rope portion 214 extending thereover and the rim 164 is directly over the path of movement of the top ends of the ramie plant which is moving between the chains 110 and 120 and the guide means therefor so that all of the ramie plants conveyed by the chains will be gripped by the wheel and carried about the periphery of the wheel since the tops of the plants will pass between the rope 166 and the rim 164.

To provide for variations in the eifective length of the rope 166 and to maintain a tension thereon whether there is a small amount, or a large amount of ramie plants supported thereby, the pulleys 206 and 204 are supported by a generally U-shaped saddle member 218 which is connected to a pair of tension coil springs 220 which have their terminal ends connected to flexible wire members 222 which in turn are secured to a transverse bar 224 carried by the drum 166 but rotatable in conjunction therewith whereby the bar 224 is' stationary and the springs 220, being under. tension, will resiliently retain tension on the rope 166 for maintaining the same taut and for maintaining a resilient gripping action on the ramie 176. The orientation of the pulleys in relation to the wheel and the conveying mechanism for the ramie is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and FIGURE'lO illustrates the details of construction of the pulley mechanism for providing the entrance crotch or throat for the ramie fiber and also for discharge of the tops of the ramie after they have been cut off by virtue of the removal of the rope 166 from the rim 164 when the rope 166 passes over pulley 188 thus discharging the ungripped tops of ramie onto the soil.

The mills 18 generally include supporting members 226 which are rigidly supported from the longitudinal frame rails 20 with the support members 226 supporting a first pair of axle housings 228 with differential assemblies 236 mounted thereon and axle housings 232 extending vertically upwardly therefrom which are connected with the upper plate 234 of a cylindrical drum 236 having the lower plate 238 idling on the axle housing 232. The usual axle is provided in the axle housing for driving the drum 236. The drum 236 is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed radially extending ribs or blades 249 thereon which are in circumferentially spaced relation. Each of the differential assemblies 230 is provided with an input shaft 242 having a sprocket gear 244 thereon which are driven from a sprocket gear 246 carried by longitudinally extending power shaft 248 supported by bearing journals .250 on a longitudinal frame rail 26. A second pair of differential assemblies 252 are supported on the support members 226 and include inlet sprockets 254 driven from sprocket gears 256 on the from the differential assemblies 152 is a pair of drums 262 each having radially extending projections 264 of a radial nature which extend longitudinally and-which are spaced at from each other. That is, there are four radially extending fins or blades 264 on the drums 262. As in connection with drums 236, the drums 262 are driven in timed relation so that at no time does the blades 264 contact each other nor do the blades 240 contact each other.

The elongated power shaft 248 is driven from-a power take-off through a pulley or sprocket gear 266 aligned with a pulley or sprocket gear 268 on the shaft 248;. A sprocket chain or belt 276 drives the shaft 248 which also has a sprocket gear 272 thereon receiving a sprocket chain 274 for driving the input gear 1'74 of the differential assembly 170 for driving the wheel. Also, a sprocket gear or belt pulley 276 is provided on the shaft 248 in. perpendicular relation to a pulley or sprocket gear 278 on the power shaft 134 for driving the worm gear 132 which in turn drives the two conveying chains for conveying the cut ramie from the front of the machine to the supporting wheel. 1

As the ramie cane is pulled through and between the drums 236, the fiber canes will be folded somewhat into the fashion of a bellows which causes the central wood to be broken into many parts. The ratio of actions is to be so timed that there will be no scrubbing or rubbing of the fibers. That is, no ribboning or decortication, but rather an opening of the transverse bond between fibers as the canes are slowly bent and wood broken at fixed intervals would occur. After passage between the first set of drums or the first mill, the sub-ribboner drums 262 are arranged so that these drums will be in overdrive in such a fashion that several scraper bars will work upon a. short length of fiber thereby kicking out the central wood and more or less scraping the fiber free of bark as may be regulated by speed and the setting between the drums. in each instance, the spacing between the drums may be varied and the speed of rotation thereof may be varied by changing ratios of gears in the differential assembly which is a relatively simple expedient.

The hydraulic motors for driving the two rotatable saws or cutter blades may be of any suitable and convenient construction and may be driven from a hydraulic pump such as the hydraulic pump 28% shown schematically in FIGURE 1'11 which may be driven from any point on the vehicle truck and may be conveniently such a pump that is normally provided for providing hydraulic pressure on truck vehicles. A control valve such as the valve box assembly 282 may be provided for controlling operation of the cutter blades and a manual valve 234 may be provided if desired.

In operation, the harvester is driven alongside of ramie to be cut generally in parallel relation to the edge of the crop substantially in the same nature as all harvesters are propelled. Since the skids 44 and 50 ride against the ground, the cut-off saw or blade d2 will cut the ramie substantially at a predetermined elevation. The top portion of the ramie plant is engaged by the chain conveyors 114i and 12d immediately preceding engagement of the cut-ofi blade 62 with the ramie, thus supporting the ramie from the conveyor chains with the top portions thereof extending above the same. The outer chain 120 extends rearwardly from the sprocket gear 196 and over a sprocket gear 107 as shown in FIGURE 1 which holds the chain substantially adjacent the chain 11% which eliminates the necessity of a chain guide for the chain 120 inasmuch as the chain will follow around the arcuate curvature of the chain guide 1618 and hold the ramie fiber therebetween. The rear end of the chain guide 103 as well as the chains 11% and 120 extends under the carrier wheel 16 and is fed onto the carrier wheel by virtue of the pulley assembly and the rope or cable encircling the carrier wheel. The ramie plants are then carried through the mills in a sequential manner and then proceeds to the cut-off blade 17S wherein the ma} or part of the ramie which depends from the carrier wheel is severed and drops onto a suitable trailing vehicle or trailing transporting hopper assembly which is not shown since this may assume any conventional construction.

The various drive mechanisms including the lay shaft or power shaft 243 and the fluid pump and motors are all controlled by the operator of the vehicle from the cab by suitable control mechanisms.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A harvester for ramie plants having a woody stalk comprising a mobile wheeled self-propelled frame, a rotary cutter, means mounting said cutter on said frame in laterally spaced relation thereto for cutting ramie plants when the frame is moved across the held with the cutter engaging the ramie plants, conveying means, means supporting said conveying means from said frame in overlying vertical alignment and vertically spaced relation to the cutter for engaging the tops of ramie plants and conveying the same longitudinally, an enlarged carrier wheelmounted on said frame for rotation about a vertical axis, said wheel having a rigid peripheral rim, flexible means on said carrier wheel for receiving the ramie plants from the conveying means and holding the plants in depending relation on the wheel while conveying the same around the periphery. of the wheel when the wheel rotates, means mountedon said frame below the periphery of the carrier wheel for treating the rarnie plants by breaking the stalk and removing some of the woody portions thereof, and means mounted on said frame adjacent the periphery of the wheel for cutting the top portions of the ramie plants from the main body portion thereof so that the main body portion may be transported for further treatment and the top portions discharged from the wheel adjacent the receiving means.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotary cutter includes a rotary circular cutter blade, a pair of skids, bracket means interconnecting the sloids and supporting the blade therebetween in elevated position in relation to the ground surface upon which the skids slide, a plurality of support bars pivotally interconnecting the frame and skids whereby the skids may follow the contour of the ground surface, adjustable means interconnecting the frame and the skids for raising the skids to an elevated stored position for transport of the harvester, and power means connected to the blade for rotating the same about a vertical axis, said power means being controllable from the frame.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveying means includes a longitudinally extending framework including an inner rail and an outer rail, an

endless conveying chain mounted on said inner rail, an

endless conveying chain mounted on said outer rail, said endless chains being disposed in opposing relation to each other with the inner flights thereof disposed in adjacent relation for clampingly receiving the top portions of ramie plants therebetween, the forward portions of the inner and outer rails and the chains mounted thereon disposed in diverging relation. for gathering thetops of ramie plants and guiding the same between the facing flights of the endless chain whereby the ramie plants will be gripped therebetween, and means driving each of said endless chains at an equal speed for moving the ramie' plants longitudinally between the chains, said inner chain having a guide backing the same with the guide extendwith the apex thereof disposed inwardly. thereby providingoutwardly diverging walls, a portion of the periphcry of the rim overlying the rear inner end of the conveymg means for receiving the ramie plants therefrom, said means for holding the ramie plants in position including an endless flexible'member received between the diverging and outwardly extending walls of the V-shaped rim, and means guiding the flexible line off of and back onto the rim at circumferentially spaced points which bridge the portion of the wheel which overlies the rear end of the conveying means thereby providing an entrance threat for the ramie plant and also a discharge point for the top of the ramie plant after the main portions thereof have been severed by thecutting means.

a 5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting means disposed adjacent the periphery of the carrier wheel includes a circular cutter blade rotatable about a snooze 1 9 vertical axis disposed immediately below the plane of the periphery of the Wheel for severing the top portions of the ramie plants therefrom, and means for drivingsa-id blade with said means being controllable from a remote point on the frame.

6. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for treating the mein body portion of the ramie plants includes a pair of circumferentially spaced mills, each of said mills including a pair of rotatable drums, means driving the drums in the pairs in timed relation, the first pair of drums having a plurality of closely spaced radially extending fins for folding the plants into substantially bellows shape for breaking the Wood fibers into a plurality of portions, the second pair of drums having a lesser amount of circumferentially spaced radially extending fins for removing a portion of the wood from the ramie plants.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,183,946 Soenens Dec. 19, 1939 2,291,093 Hurst et a1 July 28, 1942 2,634,569 Raney et a1 Apr. 14, 1953 2,642,178 Nayl'or June 16, 1953 2,699,030 Adarnson Jan. 11, 1955 2,782,581 Thomson Feb. 26, 1957 2,939,131 Cary etal. June 7, 1960 

1. A HARVESTER FOR RAMIE PLANTS HAVING A WOODY STALK COMPRISING A MOBILE WHEELED SELF-PROPELLED FRAME, A ROTARY CUTTER, MEANS MOUNTING SAID CUTTER ON SAID FRAME IN LATERALLY SPACED RELATION THERETO FOR CUTTING RAMIE PLANTS WHEN THE FRAME IS MOVED ACROSS THE FIELD WITH THE CUTTER ENGAGING THE RAMIE PLANTS, CONVEYING MEANS, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CONVEYING MEANS FROM SAID FRAME IN OVERLYING VERTICAL ALIGNMENT AND VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION TO THE CUTTER FOR ENGAGING THE TOPS OF RAMIE PLANTS AND CONVEYING THE SAME LONGITUDINALLY, AN ENLARGED CARRIER WHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, SAID WHEEL HAVING A RIGID PERIPHERAL RIM, FLEXIBLE MEANS ON SAID CARRIER WHEEL FOR RECEIVING THE RAMIE PLANTS FROM THE CONVEYING MEANS AND HOLDING THE PLANTS IN DEPENDING RELATION ON THE WHEEL WHILE CONVEYING THE SAME AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF THE WHEEL WHEN THE WHEEL ROTATES, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME BELOW THE PERIPHERY OF 